1. Cocktail Ball Drop

A cocktail ball drop is such an easy (and delicious) way to celebrate New Year’s. There are two simple methods you can try, depending on how you want your cocktail to look. 

For the first, start by freezing ice cubes into small balls using a spherical tray. If you’re celebrating with a classic glass of champagne, you’ll need to make sure that your ice spheres are small enough to fit through the mouth of a champagne glass. 

Once the ice has set, roll each sphere in edible food glitter. The color of glitter you pick is up to you—just make sure that it will stand out when dropped into the drinks you’re serving. 

Before midnight, pass out your glittery ice spheres (individual serving tongs are ideal!). Once the new year arrives, it’s time for everyone to drop an ice cube into their champagne, causing it to bubble and sparkle just in time for the perfect New Year’s toast.

You can also try this hack by using cotton candy instead of an ice cube. Tear off a piece of cotton candy and place sprinkles or edible glitter into the center. Roll the cotton candy into a ball so that it’s ready to be dropped into your glass at midnight. As soon as it hits the cocktail, the cotton candy will dissolve, releasing a festive shower of glitter (and flavoring your drink). 

2. Bath Bomb Ball Drop

Start 2026 off right with a ball drop that’s centered around self-care. Prime yourself pre-midnight with a bath bomb of your choice for the most relaxing ball drop you’ve ever experienced. Of course, if you’re playing host, there are ways to put a cute spin on a bath bomb ball drop for you and your guests. Pass out bath bombs as party favors at your New Year's Eve party.

3. Doggie Ball Drop

A dog ball drop is a paw-sitively adorable way to celebrate the new year. Rather than doing your doggie drop at midnight, it’s recommended to do it in the afternoon or evening (12 p.m. on New Year’s Eve is a popular time). This tradition originated in dog parks across the country, where dog owners will gather with their furry friends (and their favorite toy balls). Each owner drops (or throws) the ball for their dog at the same time, resulting in a beautifully chaotic celebration.

If you’re celebrating New Year’s with pet owners this year, this celebration is a purr-fect family-friendly party option. Prepare your backyard for an outdoor dog party, and tell your guests to bring their dogs along with their favorite toys. The doggie ball drop will be over long before the new year actually arrives, leaving you and your guests plenty of time to put your pets to bed and attend a more human-focused event. 

4. Balloon Drop

A balloon ball drop is such a festive and lively way to surprise your New Year’s guests. All you need is a pile of colorful balloons and a spare bedsheet or tablecloth.

Tape all four corners of the sheet to your ceiling using painter’s tape; if you have beams or posts nearby, you can secure your sheet by tying it up. When you hang up your sheet, don’t pull it taut; there should be enough room to tuck balloons in the center. Once your sheet is secure, fill it with as many balloons as you can: the more you use, the bigger the effect.

When the clock strikes midnight, simply pull down on the center of the blanket to release the tape; the balloons will gently float down and shower your guests. If the blanket is too high to reach, you can attach a long string to the front of the blanket instead, giving you something to pull on to release your balloons. 

5. Ball Drop for Foodies

Who says you can’t have a literal ball drop at home? There are so many fun ways to complete this trick for your party guests, but to start, you’ll need a sweet (or savory) treat for the base of your ball drop. Serve up individual ball drops with cupcakes, or make a gorgeous New Year's cake to dig into with one large ball on top.

For this sweeter option, add a cake pop stick or food skewer into the center of each cupcake or cake. Place a cake pop or miniature New Year’s ball on the very top of each skewer; you can use a dab of sugar icing on the bottom to make sure it doesn’t slide down the skewer prematurely. At midnight, simply press down on the top of your cupcake topping, and the ball will drop on its own.